My Top Sigma Brushes

I get asked on almost every video and on Facebook/Twitter about which Sigma brushes I would recommend for you to buy.  I personally have had a good experience with every single Sigma brush I've ever used, but there are definitely several that I would say should find their way into everyone's collection.  

My favorite Sigma brushes:

• F80 Flat Kabuki Brush http://bit.ly/XjAzGK $18

If you're looking for a foundation brush that makes your makeup go on as if it's airbrushed, then this is the perfect brush for you. It is a densely bristled brush that almost paints on your foundation by magic.  I prefer this to a round kabuki because the cut edges of the brush allow me to really get into all the different planes and angles of my face.  The only downside to the brush is that it is quite a pain to deep clean.  I would recommend either more frequent cleanings or buy a back up of this brush to have on hand while you're waiting for the other brush to dry.

• F25 Tapered Face Brush http://bit.ly/11VKIdG $25

This is the most expensive brush that Sigma sells, and it's still less than almost every MAC brush.  The comparable MAC 138 is $54!!  It is also probably the softest brush that I have ever touched.  It is quite a few uses.  I like to use the pointy tip for contouring, and the fluffier sides to pat/roll blush onto my cheeks.  If you "squash" the tip into your face, you can even use it to buff out any lines from overzealous contouring.

• E25 Blending Brush http://bit.ly/WQNnDa $10

If you only buy one brush, get this one.  It's a dupe for the MAC 217 (which retails for $23).  I have at least 4-5 of them and I'd like to get some more.  The price point couldn't be better, and this brush is a workhorse.  I use it to pack on color on the lid, blend color into the crease, blend out harsh lines, and even put down pigment.  I could easily do an entire eye look using just this brush.

• E55 Shading Brush http://bit.ly/VV6yO7 $10 

This brush might not look like much, but I can get quite a lot of use out of it.  This dupe of the MAC 239 (which is sold for $25) is an obvious choice for packing down color on the lid, but it is also excellent for cutting in a crease or a sharp outer-v if just the tip of the brush is used.  It's also great for running a bit of shadow under the lower lash line.

• E40 Tapered Blending Brush http://bit.ly/UXYoFv $12

I was late to jump on the bandwagon with this dupe of the MAC 224 (sold at $31), but now I couldn't live without it.  I use it mostly for putting a less concentrated bit of color in my crease, but also for blending out any harsh lines when I'm done with my shadow.  I also use another E40 to blend concealer on stubborn blemishes or even under my eyes.  It's also a great brush to use for setting smaller areas of the face with powder.

• E65 Small Angle Brush http://bit.ly/11VOT9x $10

This is another little brush (dupe for the MAC 208/209 for $20) that gets a lot done.  I use it mostly for eye liner when I use shadows in lieu of a traditional eye liner pencil.  It also works great with gel eyeliners, especially if you're trying to get that flick at the end of your eye.  It's also handy to use for filling in brows.

• E30 Pencil Brush http://bit.ly/YTGxTv $10

The Sigma dupe for the MAC 219 (which sells for $25) is small but mighty.  I've used it to blend out eyeliner on both upper and lower lash lines, smudge shadow along the lash line, do detail work in the crease, or to add a highlight to the inner corner or brow bone.  It's also great for stippling on concealer.

Obviously there are other brushes from Sigma that I love.  I recently acquired their large powder brush, angled contour brush, and their precision brushes.  While I enjoy using them, the ones I listed above are the ones I find myself reaching for every single day.

I'd love to hear which brushes you like from Sigma and which ones you recommend for me to pick up next!

http://

My Favorite Zoya Nail Polishes

*For a complete listing of all the polishes mentioned in the above video, what I'm wearing, and links of where to purchase, please view the video on my YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxJ9xl8ejgw)

I can't remember exactly when my love affair with Zoya started, but I know who I can blame for my addiction.  I was watching a video from Michele1218, and she was raving about their nail polish remover and how it made removing glitter nail polish so easy. I already had one bottle of their polish, Gemma, and I was impressed with it.   So, as I often do after watching YouTube, I swung by my Ulta and picked up my first bottle of their Zoya Remove Plus Nail Polish Remover.  Needless, to say, Michele was right-this stuff was AMAZING!!  I quickly did a video review on the remover, and soon after, Zoya contacted me and asked if they could send me a few bottles of polish as a thank you for the review.  Somehow, I ended up getting on their press list and now every season, I am the lucky recipient of their newest collection of polishes.

Since using so many of their polishes, I find myself wanting more of them.  So, every time there's a sale or special deal advertised on their website, I buy more.  Every time I'm at Ulta and I see a shade I don't already have, I buy it, too.  So...my collection has gotten a little out of control.

I don't exclusively use Zoya, nor do I have any sort of agreement with them, but I've just grown to prefer their polish over any other brand.  The price point is great ($8), the range of color options is almost infinite, and these little babies certainly work well on my nails in terms of longevity.  

I tried to pick my top 10 colors, but it was impossible.  Then I tried to narrow it down to just 20, but a few more squeezed in.  It's like trying to pick your favorite child-impossible.

If I don't do major dishwashing, housecleaning with abrasive chemicals, add avoid getting my nails soaked in rubbing alcohol (which I just did while cleaning my makeup brushes), then I can get a good seven days of wear out of a Zoya polish.  I do experience minor wear at the tips of my nails, but I never  experience any large chunks of polish chipping off.  

When I do my nails, I always do it in this order: 

• Remove old polish with Zoya Remove Plus
• Do any filing or trimming that might be necessary
• Lay down a coat of nail strengthener (right now it's OPI Nail Envy)
• Put down a base coat (used to be CND Sticky, now it's Seche Vite base coat)
• Use two coats of Zoya nail polish
• Finish with Seche Vite Quick Dry Top Coat

Zoya does make a couple of different base coats as well as a top coat, all of which I've tried.  I've spoken with their representative and I've been told that their base and top coats are formulated to work specifically with their nail color, which will extend its life even more.  Since I already get a week's worth of wear out of one manicure and  I don't have the patience to wait for a normal drying time, I always use the Seche Vite top coat.  I've tried literally dozens of other brands, but nothing works as well for me as the Seche Vite, so I'm sticking with it.  I did recently purchase the Seche Restore, which is the only recommended product to thin out the top coat without changing it's efficacy.

So there's a little inside peek into my manicure habits and all time favorite polish.  In our fickle little beauty world, it's nice to have a bit of consistency, once in awhile!

My Louis Vuitton Collection

I was really hesitant to film this video, but so far, the feedback has been very positive.  I hope that most of you take it in the spirit in which it was intended, which is to give you more information in a casual way.  Sometimes it's a bit intimidating to ask a lot of questions when you get to the store, so I hope I've given you a place where you feel comfortable to ask any question you'd like!

Here's a rundown on my bags and what I think of each of them:

The Tivoli GM in Monogram Canvas:
This bag was the first one I acquired, and probably took me the longest to pick out.  I think I tried on every single bag in the store before I settled on it.  At the time, I was looking for something that I could use everyday, that would hold everything I could possibly want to bring along, and that could be secured easily with a zipper.  Also, since this was my first LV, I wanted a "classic" pattern, so I went with the Monogram Canvas.

Pros: Easy to clean, three interior pockets, feet on bottom for protection, fits easily on shoulder, zipper to secure contents

Cons: Zipper can be tricky to close due to the curved top of the bag, it can get a bit heavy if you put too much in it

The Thames GM in Monogram Canvas:
This bag also comes with a story.  I bought it in Paris while on vacation with my family, and I got to meet my friend through YT, Myriam, at the Louis Vuitton store on the Champs-Elysees.  It was quite an experience to not only shop at the LV flagship store, but to do it with a friend and native French speaker!  My criteria for the bag I wanted at the time was still something I could use everyday, but scaled down somewhat, so it would be appropriate to take to meetings and other more formal events.  I picked the Thames because it fit the bill and, most importantly, the brass plate on the front lists the address of the flagship store.  So, every time I look at the bag, I'm reminded of where I was when I bought it and who I was with!

Pros: Easy to clean, fits nicely on the shoulder and against the body, zipper secures easily

Cons: None that I can think of

The Speedy 30 in Damier Azur Canvas:
This bag was bought purely because I wanted a spring time bag, and I wanted the ultimate classic shape from Louis Vuitton.  I "tried out" the other two sizes in the store, but it made me feel a bit like Goldilocks-one was too small, the other too big.  In the end, the medium sized one was just right!

Pros: Great pattern for spring and summer, quite a roomy bag, classic silhouette

Cons: Can get dirty easily, awkward to carry for long periods of time

The Neverfull MM in Damier Ebene Canvas:
Two days after bringing home my Speedy, I realized that it's not the everyday bag that I was hoping for.  I like having my hands and arms free, and I found that the Damier Azur print does not work well when set on bleachers at baseball games and football games, which is where I spend a lot of my time.  I usually also have to haul sunscreen, fans, snacks, etc, so I needed a bag that could be more of a workhorse.  So, back to the LV boutique I went, and I returned with the Neverfull in the Damier Ebene print.

Pros: Can hold just about anything, easily cleaned, pattern goes with just about everything

Cons: Straps are on the thin side so they can dig into the shoulder at times, doesn't close in order to secure contents

The Sarah Wallet in Monogram Vernis in Amarante:
My husband presented me with this wallet on the day we had to put our dog to sleep, as a way to cheer me up.  He was very proud that he picked it out all by himself.  While it didn't really cheer me up, I do love the wallet.  It can hold an amazing amount of stuff, and I love all the different pockets and slots.  It can also double as a clutch, easily holding my iPhone and a lipstick in it.

Pros: Holds a great deal of stuff, beautiful color

Cons: Can get heavy, patent leather shows fingerprints, coin purse is inside so if it's too full the wallet won't shut

The Eva Clutch in Monogram Canvas:
My most recent purchase came to me while vacationing in Bermuda.  I had brought the Neverfull with me, but I really wanted a smaller cross body bag that was more efficient for touring and running around the island.  I saw a fellow guest at our hotel wearing this bag and decided this was the one!  I love how versatile this bag is-it can be worn cross body style, as a shoulder bag, or as a wristlet.  This might be my favorite out of the whole collection!

Pros: It's quite versatile, can be worn three different ways, can hold a great deal of essentials, has a zipper to secure contents

Cons: Long leather cross body strap can't be adjusted in length

Paint Pot and Cream Eyeshadow Collection

There are some makeup products that I just can't get enough of, and cream eye shadows are at the top of the list.  My collection started with one MAC paint pot and sort of exploded from there.  While the majority of cream shadows are only from high-end brands like MAC, Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, Chanel, etc, in the last year the drugstore brands have made a good showing, especially Maybelline with their Color Tattoo line.

I primarily use the cream shadows as a primer.  90% of the time I use MAC's Soft Ochre as a primer and then put my eye shadows right on top of it.  I've been very lucky and have never experienced creasing or fading.  If I'm using a shimmer shadow on my lid, then I like to use a shimmery cream shadow underneath as a base.  I have no idea if that actually helps, but it's fun to use!

I do stay with the neutral colors-everything I own ranges from champagne to some sort of shimmery brown, with the focus on warm, lighter tones.  I should probably branch out, but I'm not a fan of color on my eye lids.  Grey or navy blue on me and I feel like I'm walking on the wild side!

Please let me know if there's a cream shadow that you think I just have to have.  You know I won't be able to resist and will probably go out and get it!

I'm On My Soap Box!

                I’ve noticed a disturbing trend and it’s popping up everywhere-in everyday conversation, emails,  blogs, YouTube videos, Twitter, Facebook, and most recently, on the red carpet at the Oscars.  What is this horrible thing?  It’s the constant use of slang and crude, profane language and it has gotten completely out of hand.

                Last night, my family and I were watching the red carpet coverage of the Oscars and a lovely young lady was being interviewed by Ryan Seacrest.  Lovely, that is, until she opened her mouth.  I can’t recall if she actually used the word “dude”, but I know she said “stoked” a few times, and the overall effect was not charming.  Not only was I flabbergasted that someone at an event as respected as the Oscars could sound so stupid, but even my children were appalled.  Now, she didn’t curse, but her use of informal language and slang at such a formal event was almost as bad as if she had.

                I’ve also noticed a few ladies in the beauty community who love to sprinkle their hauls and tutorials with various four letter words.  I’m not sure why they feel the need to do it-I think they believe it makes them sound edgy, witty and tough-girl, but to me, it makes me reach for the “unsubscribe” button.  It’s distracting, tacky, and has no place when describing beauty products. 

                We all have our favorite people that we like to watch on YouTube in the beauty community.  There are so many talented people making wonderful videos for us to watch.  But there are a handful of them that truly stand out, and the minute I see one of their videos in my subscription box, I do a happy dance.  Apart from their amazing skills, the one thing they all have in common is their gift at speaking.  Yes, Lisa Eldridge is one of the most talented makeup artists on the planet, but a big reason why she is so popular is because she is so eloquent.  Nur (nurberxo) is the first person I ever saw on YouTube that peppered her videos with multi-syllabic words and SAT level vocabulary.  Yes, she’s beautiful and that helps when watching her.  But I think that those of her who love watching her can also say she is incredibly witty, and yet nary a profane word escapes her lips in her videos.  It’s their lack of profanity that makes them stand out among a sea of slang dropping sailors.

                Now, I’m not saying that I use perfect speech.  I can curse like a trucker and when I’m not on camera, the F-bomb slips out on a daily basis.  It’s a problem, and I’m working on it.  But I never swear on camera.   I had a revelation last night about my cursing problem.  I realized that if I can make a conscious effort not to swear on camera (and I never have, not even the edited out portions), then why can’t I do that in my daily life?  I clearly have the ability to refrain from cursing during a business meeting, a conference with my sons’ teachers, or when speaking to my rabbi, so why should it be so difficult to just stop cursing completely?  It shouldn’t!  So, I am declaring to all 90 of you who follow this blog, from now on, no curse words will fall out of my mouth, EXCEPT if I am startled or if I have just stubbed my toe.

                I don’t know if this trend will ever turn around.  With electronic communication quickly replacing all forms of formal written and oral communication, it may not. I can’t control mainstream media, but I can take control over my own mouth.  So no more BLEEPING profanity from me!

My Husband's Favorite Products

I've decided to resurrect my blog after months of neglect, and I thought this would be a fun way to kick start it since I've received a record number of comments about my husband's antics on my Facebook page.


My husband is a typical guy.  He loves to play sports, mostly golf these days, but avidly watches anything with a ball on television.  His reading is limited to Sports Illustrated and anything published about golf.  His clothes are so predictable they border on a uniform.  Work clothes are always from one of two stores-Brooks Brothers or Johnston & Murphy, all of his suits are either charcoal grey or navy and all of his ties are striped.  Casual clothes are always a collared golf shirt and khaki pants.  Rarely does he wear jeans, and he would never be caught dead in flip flops.


However, he is incredibly open-minded when it comes to toiletries.  I don't know where the fascination began, but every time I take a peek into his side of the bathroom, I am always flabbergasted by what I find in there.  Ointments, creams, gels, oils, all kinds of exotic and unheard of (at least to me) personal hygiene items lurk inside his medicine cabinet.


While he tends to change favorites from one month to the next, a few items have stood the test of time and are perennial favorites.  With one exception, all of these products can be found at the drugstore or grocery store.

• Clean & Clear Advantage products-I think he owns almost everything they currently make.  My husband has extremely oily skin, yet at the same time I rarely see a breakout on his face.  He likes that these are easily found at any drugstore, all over the country.
• Shea Moisture African Black Soap Shaving Kit-he discovered this at Target while killing time waiting for me to get out of the cosmetics section.  It works extremely well at getting a close shave while preventing razor burn and ingrown hairs.  These days, it's impossible to find in the stores but you can get it online.  http://www.target.com/p/Men-s-Shea-Moisture-Shave-3-pc-Travel-Kit/-/A-10870478#?lnk=sc_qi_detailbutton
• Sibu Sea Buckthorn Cleanse and Detox soap-this was a recommendation from Michele1218 and he went through two bars before moving on to another soap.  They are quite inexpensive (under $6) and can be found in stores at Whole Foods and GNC.  Unfortunately, he quickly used them up and found they didn't last very long.  Which leads me to...
• Grandpa's Natural Soap-another find at Whole Foods, but I'm sure they can be found elsewhere and online.  His favorite version is their Oatmeal bar.  Hubby says it has the same results as the Sibu, but the bar lasts a lot longer.
• Bump Patrol-apparently another wonder product to fight ingrown hairs.  As annoying as an ingrown hair can be on a lady's bikini line, I just realized how awful that must be to have on your face! Anyway, this has been a favorite for awhile.   It's available at Target.
• Crest Pro-Health Complete mouth wash.  Like I mentioned in the video, good dental health is directly connected to good heart health.  This mouthwash was recommended by both our dentist and his cardiologist, so of course he ran out and got it.  It comes in various flavors, but the purple one is his favorite.

I'd like to add that while I did joke about not telling him about the video starring his favorite products, I did phone him at work at break it to him.  As always, he was a good sport about it.  As long as I'm happy and he's off camera, he's happy too.

I'd love to hear what your husband (or boyfriend, dad, brother, best guy friend) uses in their day to day personal hygiene.  Please list their favorites in the comments below, and, who knows-maybe our guys will read it for inspiration!

Hi Marnie ! I'm planing to go to dermatologist since I've been suffering acne for a while now. Do you know how to choose a dermatologist and how much it usually costs for the office visit if you do not have any insurance? Thanks

I really wish I knew the answer to this question, since I need to find a good dermatologist just to do a yearly skin check. However, I really don't. I think I would do some research online-there are so many great resources out there.

Ask me anything